Australia smashed its previous annual heat record in 2013, sparking renewed political debate about climate change. The Bureau of Meteorology on Friday confirmed that last year was the hottest nationwide in more than a century of standardised records, with mean temperatures 1.2 degrees above the 1961-90 average. The 12 months easily eclipsed the previous annual record set in 2005, when mean temperatures were 1.03 degrees above average. ... By maximums, all but Victoria and Tasmania recorded their hottest years, with nationwide maximums a full 1.45 degrees above the long-term average, shattering the previous record of 1.21 degrees in 2002.

The report also follows a fierce attack on climate change science this week by businessman Maurice Newman, the chairman of Mr Abbott's business advisory group. In a newspaper opinion article, Mr Newman branded climate change a ''scientific delusion''. Acting Greens leader Richard Di Natale accused Mr Abbott of ''listening to people who are part of the tinfoil hat brigade''. Dr Di Natale said it went against all evidence for the government to unwind the carbon tax. ''The experts right around the world are telling him loudly and clearly that we've got a big problem on our hands and we've got to start taking action to fix it.''